ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: When we came to government, we promised we would reform Australia's broken environmental laws. Today, we deliver that promise. The sensible, responsible and balanced laws are good for business and good for the environment. Today, I can announce our Government's landmark environmental law reform will pass the Parliament today, heralding a new era for the environment and productivity in Australia. We have consulted extensively with the business community, with environmental groups and with community organisations. More than five years after Professor Graeme Samuel handed down his independent review into the nation's 25 year old environmental laws that were widely acknowledged as not being fit for purpose, the Government's Environment Protection Reform Bill will be passed by the Senate today.
The bill will amend the EPBC Act, providing a balanced set of reforms that not only protect the environment for this and future generations, but importantly as well, deliver more certainty for business and the community by helping to speed up decision making for projects in key areas of national priority, like housing, renewable energy and critical minerals. These laws will reduce approval times from years to months, and from months to weeks.
The key measures in the Government's amended Bill are; for the first time, Australia will have a National Environment Protection Agency, a strong, independent regulator with a clear focus on ensuring better compliance with and stronger enforcement of Australia's new environmental laws. In another first, Australia will have national environmental standards to ensure clear, strong guidelines to protect the environment. There will be higher penalties for the most significant breaches of environmental law, as well as environment protection evidence for use in urgent circumstances to prevent and respond to major contraventions of the law. We are removing and sunsetting the exemption from the EPBC Act for high risk land clearing and regional forest agreements, so they comply with the same rules and standards as other industries.
To complement this, today we're announcing that my Government will establish a $300 million Forestry Growth Fund to deliver a bigger forestry industry that supports more secure jobs, better pay and high value output. The Timber Fibres Strategy developed with industry outlines how the forestry sector is increasingly relying on plantation timber, which provides opportunities to improve the sustainability of the industry and move up the value chain for timber products. This is about using science and evidence to prove all forestry in Australia is undertaken at the highest standard. The Government is backing forestry and timber workers through our Forestry Growth Fund that will invest in new equipment, and facilities to enable industry modernisation and advanced processing. Things like retooling of timber mills, that is so important for the industry going forward.
We will require proponents of large emitting projects to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and their emission reduction plan. We will maintain federal approval of water trigger on coal and gas projects, because the water table in areas like the Murray Darling Basin obviously goes across state boundaries, and therefore the water trigger is absolutely essential.
We will importantly respond to what was the business community's main demand, and that was that we needed to better define unacceptable impacts that were in the Bill that passed the House of Representatives, to give more certainty to business, and we will deliver that today. We will clarify net gain as well to provide more certainty going forward. We will have stop work orders limited to 14 days with the potential for the Minister to deliver an additional 14 days, should it be deemed to be appropriate. We will allow the extension as well of not-controlled action decisions, which has lapsed. So, for example, if you had a not-controlled action, such as a road to a particular project that hadn't yet been approved because it was subject to assessment, then that could be extended so that a common sense approach was taken. We will introduce all of these key measures to speed up decision making for business and the community, which Minister Watt will go through. This is a landmark day for the environment in this country. It is also a good day for business in this country, by providing more certainty, reducing delays, and making sure that we get better outcomes and improve productivity.
I do want to congratulate Minister Watt in particular, for the work that he has done consulting right across the country to deliver this project. I want to thank those people who participated in good faith negotiations, including the Senators Waters and Hanson-Young, who negotiated in good faith. There are many people in the Coalition as well, such as Senator Duniam and the Shadow Minister who also participated in negotiations. But in particular, I want to thank those people in the business community and in the environmental movement who engaged constructively to get this outcome. I said, when I spoke at the National Press Club in June after our election, that this was going to be the year of delivery, and this is front and centre of my Government, delivering on the commitments that we made. We'll hear from Minister Watt, and then we'll hear from Minister Gallagher as well about the other legislation that will pass the Parliament today.
MURRAY WATT, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Well, thanks very much, Prime Minister, and thank you for your leadership and support through this project. As you say, it has been a long time coming, and it's a very good day for Australia under your leadership.
As the Prime Minister has said, today is a landmark day for Australia's natural environment. Today, Labor's historic reforms through our national environmental laws will be passed with the support of the Greens in the Senate. These reforms will deliver a modern, fit for purpose set of national environmental laws for Australia for a long time to come. The reforms deliver faithfully on the recommendations of Professor Samuel's report five long years ago, and they deliver on the promise that I gave, on taking on this role to ensure that these laws would be balanced and that they would deliver real gains for both the environment and for business.
Labor has a proud history of standing up for the environment, and we continue that work today with these reforms. The Prime Minister has taken you through in some detail the major benefits for the environment out of these reforms, such as the new National Environment Protection Agency, new national environmental standards and removing exemptions from the Act for high risk land clearing and regional forestry agreements. I won't go over that again in detail, but I will elaborate a little bit further on some of the reforms for business. These reforms do respond to the major requests of the business community, which are all designed to speed up decision making and lift productivity by giving business faster yeses and faster nos. So these reforms include a new streamlined assessment pathway to significantly reduce the time frame for proponents who provide sufficient information up front; new and improved bilateral agreements with states and territories to remove duplication for the assessment and approval of projects; reformed regional planning to deliver go zones and no go zones for development, rather than project by project assessment; clarifying definitions of unacceptable impacts and net gain for the environment to provide greater business certainty; and introducing an ability to extend the lapsing of a not-controlled action after five years for an additional five years.
The passage of these laws today has been years in the making, and it's taken a lot of effort from a lot of people. And I really want to thank all stakeholders, from whichever perspective they've come from, who've participated in an extremely extensive consultation process. And I pay particular tribute to the members of the Labor Caucus, as well as the broader party membership, who fought so hard for so long to achieve these changes. These changes deliver that balanced package that we've talked about, to strengthen environmental protections and speed up the housing, renewables, critical minerals and other projects that we so desperately need. Thank you, and I'll pass over to Katy Gallagher.
KATY GALLAGHER, MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE SENATE: Thanks, Murray, and it's lovely to be here with you and the PM on the final sitting day. So I thought I'd just run through some of the other parts of what we've agreed today in terms of what we're going to pass through the Senate. As the PM said, he made it very clear from the re-election date that this was the year of delivery, the term of delivery, and since that day, we have gone and sought to work with the Senate, which, as you know, at times can be difficult, to get our legislative agenda through, deliver on our election commitments. And we have done that.
At the end of today, once the Senate rises, we will have passed 50 Bills through the Senate, including ten of those today. So we will pass through, obviously, the environment, the EPBC package. We'll also pass the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill, the Communications Legislation Amendment, Treasury Laws Amendment, Regulatory Reform Bill, the Education Legislation Amendment, Strengthening Oversight from the National Intelligence Community Bill, the Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill, the VET Student Loans Bill, and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty) Implementation Bill. So that gives you a sense of what will happen today, but also what we have delivered since we came, were returned to Government, including delivering on a number of election commitments through the Senate. 50 bills through the Senate, is not an insignificant achievement over the last few months. And we thank very much those across the Senate that have worked with us, including the Greens, over the last week to negotiate a package that we can get through today. But it means we finished the year on a very strong position. It means there'll only be a few Bills left before the Senate, because we have delivered so much over the last few months. And we will also, through the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Update, be providing an additional $50 million to the ABC for the production of local content, and the Minister will have more to say about that later.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is there anything that you’ve agreed to with the Greens outside of this package to obtain their support? And you met with Larissa Waters and Sarah Hanson-Young yesterday to thrash out the final details – did you meet at all with Sussan Ley to elevate those negotiations?
PRIME MINISTER: I offered to meet with Sussan Ley, and that wasn't taken up, that offer. The Coalition, I made it very clear in the first meeting that I had with Sussan Ley that this was a priority. I don't think that's a secret. I said the same privately. I said the same publicly, over and over again. The Coalition did put forward a range of amendments. Now some of those were straight from the business community. They're things that we have pursued, because we received them from the business community as well. So the sort of reforms, such as the clarification of net gain, the definition of unacceptable impacts as well, are things that we work through. The problem that we have with the Coalition was that their final letters had in it, ‘and there are other things to come’. Now, Parliament stops today. You can't, the day before Parliament say, ‘oh, well, we've got some other things, but we can't tell you what they are yet’. It made it impossible. And I hope that the Coalition support this today, because this is something that everyone in the Parliament should support. I must say that the Greens showed maturity in that they, a range of the things that they wanted they didn't get. There are a range of things we put forward that I said were not negotiable, because the business community had said to me that those last two measures, for example, were what they wanted to amend the legislation. Where I saw a good argument, either from the environmental improvement side or the business improvement side, they went in the Bill in a non-negotiable way. And I must say that the Greens were very constructive in those negotiations yesterday, and I thank them for it.
JOURNALIST: This has been, as you know, a key ask for many, many years of a great deal of Labor membership. And they're telling me now this is a landmark deal, get the champagne out, they're extremely happy about the environmental gains. And just on your earlier remarks, would you say this is a big win for the environment and there are a couple rules for business now? How would you describe the environmental gains?
PRIME MINISTER: I’d describe this as a great win for the environment and a great one for business. This is a win-win, and that is what we were looking for very clearly. And it is absolutely true that the Labor Party membership are passionate about the environment. The only portfolio I've asked for in this building is to be Shadow Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, and I was proud to do so when I received that portfolio. I know that it’s been said in the past, I read that the environment portfolio isn't an important one. I’ll tell you what, if you're a Labor Environment Minister, then that is important, and that's a very senior role in my Government. I thank also Tanya Plibersek for the work that she did during the last Parliament as Environment Minister as well. I think that the whole of our party can be proud of what we've achieved today.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just to follow up Ron’s question, was there anything else that you've agreed with the Greens outside of what you’ve announced?
PRIME MINISTER: We had the series of bills that we wanted passed, we've done that, and the forestry package that we've done to improve jobs and sustainability of the industry is something as well that we've talked with the union about, I've talked with other stakeholders about as well. That's outside of the Parliament here.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken with Roger Cook?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, we have spoken to Roger Cook.
JOURNALIST: Can you tell us more about the forestry deal, what will it mean for people who work in native forestry logging? Will they have to find a new job? What guarantees can you give those workers today?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’re very clear that the prospects of forestry workers are improved today compared with what they were yesterday, because RFAs stay. And RFAs of course, apply not just to native forestry, but also to plantation. What this does is take on board the recommendations from the Samuel Review, and does that very faithfully. But in addition to that, this takes on board the program that was done with the Timber Fibre Strategy that was worked through with industry. And so taking that on board, things like retooling of timber mills, and providing government support for that is really important. At the moment, those jobs increasingly, because yield has been decreasing over a period of time, you need to retool so that you ensure that there are future jobs going forward. Murray, you might want to add.
MINISTER WATT: As the Prime Minister says, this is actually a massive vote of confidence in the forestry sector moving forward. The reality is that we are increasingly moving towards plantation timber as the source of most of our timber needs nationally, and we want to make sure that workers in those industries seize those new opportunities of the future, including also by making sure that we are moving the sector up the value chain. That's the way that we have a sustainable forestry industry, into the future, both in environmental and economic terms.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is the business community worse off under a Labor-Greens deal as opposed to a Labor-Coalition deal? And Minister, did you ask for this portfolio?
PRIME MINISTER: Well on the former, I can do the latter too because that’s my job to allocate portfolios. And it is a great privilege to be able to do that.
The Coalition deal wasn't on the table - that was the problem. The business community have been saying for a long period of time, including through your network, that they wanted the Coalition to move forward here. I mean, this has been around, be clear about this, this has been around for a long period of time. And what is very clear from the way that I negotiate and the way that things get done or don't get done, is if it's not a good deal, it doesn't get done. This is a good deal. This is consistent with the principles that we went into those negotiations with. This had to be a good outcome for the environment and a good outcome for business. And so, I've engaged very directly myself as Prime Minister, not just this term, but last term as well, as has been well documented. I wanted to make sure that we ticked off on the big things that were required.
MINISTER WATT: I can tell you having been involved in those negotiations with the Prime Minister, that it was an absolute condition of passing these reforms with the Greens that some of the major concerns of the business community be addressed. There is no doubting whatsoever this package takes the environment a long way further, but it also takes things further forward for the business community and speeding up approvals.
JOURNALIST: Would you consider this a political victory? Obviously, it’s a mammoth task. On the legislation, when will we start to see these things taking affect in the real world?
PRIME MINISTER: I’d consider this to be a significant victory for the country, because the country's been held back by environmental laws that were not fit for purpose. They weren't working for the environment and they weren't working for business. They were holding back investment. One of the things we need to do in this country for our economy is increase investment. Speed up the housing development, speed up the rollout of renewable energy, speed up the rollout of critical minerals projects. Do so in a way that is sustainable as well, that protects our pristine and natural environment that Australians love for this and future generations. This achieves that, and I think it is certainly a proud moment that occurs. You will see this pass the Senate today. In a range of areas, the changes to the EPA application for forestry will take place 12 months after the entry into force, which is 1 July next year. So that gives time as well to work out the details of the $300 million package. How we are making sure that we're delivering. And we want to do that in partnership with industry and with workers, because my government will always stand up for the interests of workers. That is what we have done, including in Tasmania.
JOURNALIST: Minister, you've spoken about what it means for to have longevity in a way that moves outcomes by doing a deal with the other party of government. Are you concerned that that's now at risk given you aligned with the Greens?
MINISTER WATT: No, I'm not. I have made the point that there were some benefits in being able to reach a deal with the coalition in terms of the enduring nature of the reforms. But as all of you can see, every single day, the Coalition is a shambles, and they've been a shambles on these negotiations as well. So you can't strike a deal with someone who doesn't know what they want. But more broadly, I have great confidence that we've ended up delivering an enduring set of reforms by working with the Greens, because we have not only delivered wins for the environment, but also for business. So that gives me confidence that these laws will work for both the environment and for business.
JOURNALIST: One of the big aspects of this legislation is the bilateral agreements with the states. There have been plenty of examples throughout history of some relatively tough negotiations between Commonwealth and State Governments. How you expect the talks to go between yourself and the states as you thrash out some of the detail of these changes?
PRIME MINISTER: I think they'll go very well. I have a good relationship with the states, notwithstanding the fact that from time to time, Premiers will decide to, you know, try to secure a parochial hit through local papers. But I sit down with them, I engage with them constructively. I had a terrific meeting with Premier Rockliff, who's the Chair of CAF at the moment, as in, Council for the Australian Federation. Basically, the state Premiers all have this rotating chair who's their spokesperson. I met with him this week here in Canberra. I have a very good relationship with Jeremy, and I certainly, I take this opportunity to call upon members of the Legislative Council in Tasmania to vote for the stadium and to vote for Tasmania getting a footy club. Vote for Tasmanian young people having the opportunity to stay in Tasmania and to dream of playing for the Tassie Devils. You have an important task ahead in the coming week, and I don't want to see that go backwards. And so that was certainly one of the discussions that I had with Premier Rockliff.
JOURNALIST: Earlier this week, the Chinese Ambassador to Australia made a pitch for China to be considered for the 6G network. Given the history of the 5G network, is that something you would consider?
PRIME MINISTER: I didn't see that pitch, and it certainly hasn't been made to me. We give consideration, including appropriate national security consideration, to all of those measures. I'm very satisfied with decisions made by my Government and by previous governments as well, and I should imagine that any decision that we made will be consistent with that.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned about the questions about money laundering around the Nauruan Government given the deal for resettlement of the NZYQ cohort?
PRIME MINISTER: Well of course as you know those things are, suggestions are subject to a period before we were in office. I'm happy to answer questions and be accountable for what we've done in office, and what we've done in office is entirely appropriate.
JOURNALIST: Are you open to a conscience vote in Parliament on the gambling ad ban?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's been asked in Parliament. I lead the Labor Party, and the Labor Party makes caucus decisions appropriately, and that is what we do.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you have any thoughts about the people of Hong Kong? We've seen those terrible apartment fires.
PRIME MINISTER: My heart goes out to the people who've lost their lives and the people who are searching and concerned about loved ones. This has been a human tragedy, and the hearts of all Australians today will be thinking of the people of Hong Kong who are going through a very tough day. Thanks very much.